Playing catch-up

I have lots to catch up on today. My mom is doing great; she had to have a second surgery on the 25th to take out more, but now they've gotten it all. She will find out in a few days whether she'll go straight to radiation or have chemo first. She is SO hoping that she won't have to have chemo, but we'll see. Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers.

On my way down to San Diego, I stopped by my mother-in-law's house to pick up the gift she wanted me to take to my mom. Have I mentioned that my MIL is fantastic? Since I was leaving so early, she put the gift out on the front step, along with the previously un-photographed Alchemy scarf I made for her.

Click on the photo to see the pattern better. My MIL said she's been wearing the scarf almost every day, and gets lots of compliments on it. I love that!

Next up, here's the bag I'll be teaching for FashionKnits in Walnut Creek. BEFORE:

(I swear that when I finished knitting the tube that became the body of the bag, before I sewed the bottom seam, it looked just like a tube top for a hippopotamus. It was pretty funny.)

And AFTER:

It was made with Manos del Uruguay, color 05, held double. The carry-along is Joy, and the pattern is FiberTrends AC43. It was fun and quick, and the Manos felted very well. I did pull all of the ribbons from the Joy through to the outside before felting to make the ribbon part fuller. If you don't want to do that, I would get 2 balls of Joy and carry 2 strands along in that section instead of just one.

If you're in the area, the class will be on two Sundays, March 13 and 20 from 1:30p to 3p.

One note on tools: think twice before buying Crystal Palace bamboo needles. Grrrr. I was still in San Diego when I got to the handles, and didn't have any size 11 needles with me. The only ones available at the LYS I found were CPs. Within the first inch of the first handle, I had bits of one of the needle tips splintering and peeling off. It SUCKED. This isn't the first time I've had this problem with their needles. Luckily I was using them for a felting project this time, so I was only annoyed by the snagging, and didn't have to worry about the snags showing up in the finished product.

After that, I finished up the Phildar giraffe jacket for my nephew:

This was a great, easy project. I added about 2cm to the length, because my nephew is tall-ish. I did have to block the heck out of it to get the hem to lay flat--the Pegase+ is 75% acrylic and 25% wool, so I had to get it really wet and let it dry completely.

And one more project--to match:

I've been busy, I guess. :)

Also, I turned 40 this week. Can you believe that shit? I don't feel remotely mature enough to be 40. But there it is. This is one of the best things about never having been a beauty queen: you can enjoy growing older, because you have more interesting things to think about and say, and you don't miss what you used to look like.

Comments

[kerrie]

Aw, I love that blanket. I really wanted to make it to go with the jacket when I made it but just ran out of time. What yarn did you use for the back? I think the yarn called for in the pattern is discontinued now...

[La]

Welcome home Chandra! So glad your mom's doing better. Have a chance to catch up, and then drop me a line to let me know if you'll either be going to SW, or interested in at least joining us for dinner and a bit o' the knit.

[Bliss]

The jacket and bag are so terrific. Glad to hear your mom is doing better.

I too hate CP needles and will not waste any more money on them. I bought 2 pair months ago for a specific project. They were defective right out of the package (as though they had never been glued). The etailer told me to write to CP, as they had acknowledged a faulty batch of needles. I wrote them, received email back saying to send them to them and they would replace and refund the postage. I had to email several times before any action was taken. They finally mailed me two new sets of needles (no postage refund) and BOTH sets of needles had the same defect. Never again.

[ann]

I am so glad to hear that your Mom is doing better! The jacket & blanket are absolutely adorable!

[marti]

i love the giraffe sweater and the blankie! it is cute. glad to hear your mom is doing better and they got all of the tumour this time. having been down that road, i am keeping her and you in my prayers. treatment isn't fun, but the alternative would be worse.

[Lynda Magsaysay]

I would love a copy of the cute little stuffed giraffe,I have multiple patterns to choose from if you would be interested, I have been trying to locate a copy of this pattern, unfortunately its now out of print, any help in this area would be greatly appreciated,
Lynda

[Chandra]

Lynda--send me your email address, and I'll be glad to forward you the pattern. :)